When players finally encounter him, the Performer speaks in wistful poetic prose about his homeland, playing beautiful shamisen music in a moonlit courtyard with a gentle lilt in his voice. However, no amount of beautiful shamisen playing or poetic expression changes the fact that the Fox Onryo hired pirates to traffic human beings into the slave trade with the Portuguese. This antagonist requires swift justice, and players need to be prepared for the challenge ahead.
Preparing for the Battle
The encounter essentially consists of two boss fights occurring back to back. Players don’t get to choose which character faces which opponent, meaning that while Naoe typically focuses on stealth at this stage of the game, her hand-to-hand combat weapons need to be exceptional. Equip her with the best Katana available, and if she doesn’t already possess it, acquire any perks where a perfect dodge makes enemies vulnerable. Don’t bother with Vault abilities if they haven’t been unlocked yet, as there won’t be opportunities to use them.
For Yasuke, ensure he’s equipped with a Katana rather than a Naginata for this encounter. Speed will be essential for success.
The Mission: The Performer
When the mission begins, players receive additional backstory explaining how Takeda Motoaki, known as the Fox, seeks revenge against the Niwa for Oda Nobunaga stealing his land. This might seem sympathetic until players remember that his revenge involved enslaving people, cramming them into houses by the sea while waiting for Portuguese associates to arrive, and killing those deemed unsuitable.
After nightfall, when the heroes track down the lead pirate Samemaru, Yasuke takes immediate action. Players don’t receive a character choice for this mission – control automatically switches to Yasuke. The objective is to chase Samemaru through the streets until he leads players into an open clearing, where he’ll launch his first attack.
Fighting Samemaru
Samemaru proves to be a formidable opponent. He possesses several standard strikes that can be parried and countered normally, but after approximately three or four hits, he’ll auto-counter with an unblockable attack. He has numerous unusual and rapid attacks that deal more damage than expected. He’s also generous with throwing kunai when positioned more than six feet away, typically following an unblockable kick attack. Choose attacks carefully, utilizing RT/R2 abilities whenever possible. This adversary requires significant effort to defeat.
Yasuke attempts to interrogate him about the slave trade operation, which proceeds well until Samemaru mentions a name: Duarte. The implications become clear before the cutscene concludes, but players still have the Fox to confront.
Confronting the Fox
Control switches to Naoe, who begins on a rooftop. However, players need to descend to street level for this section. While there are two objective markers visible in Eagle Vision, players should consult their map instead. If any exploration of the town has been completed, the Samurai Yashiki district appears as a white marker on the map. Mark it using Y/Triangle and head directly to that location. Consider climbing walls for direct access, as ronin patrol the streets and should be avoided at this moment.
Upon arrival, players will observe a group of people praying at a shrine for Takeda Motoaki. When they finish, follow the woman home. Naoe will note that the estate with diamond flags belongs to Takeda. When the woman stops, proceed through the archway straight ahead. Players will be instructed to follow the sound of the shamisen. Look right and focus to see the soundwaves emanating from the nearby house.
Head to that location. The door on the right leads to the room containing details about the pirates Takeda hired, as well as the Fox mask. A cutscene follows showing the Fox playing his music by moonlight. While he may seem pleasant, the slavery issue remains – it’s time for confrontation.
The Final Boss Fight
There’s one significant challenge: this opponent is exceptionally skilled. This represents probably the first genuinely challenging fight in the game for some time. His katana is poisoned, which creates serious problems if players take too many hits. Additionally, his combo string is lengthy enough to mislead players about when it’s safe to attack. If players possess an affliction they can build up, it will help, though less than usual since this opponent has considerable health.
The strategy involves dealing damage and dodging to earn the adrenaline needed to repeatedly use abilities. These cause the most noticeable damage, and unlike normal attacks, only require a single hit. Patience and caution are essential – when an opening appears, strike hard rather than frequently.
Eventually, the Fox will fall. Players receive a dialogue choice about whether Motoaki deserved his fate or was simply misguided. Despite there being only one correct answer morally, either choice can be selected without affecting the plot.
Players earn a substantial amount of XP for this victory, but the real reward is that with a name to pursue, Yasuke gains his own opportunity for revenge against the Portuguese who enslaved him. This might represent one of the game’s most satisfying rewards.
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